WHO issues guidelines for HepB treatment

WHO insists that effective medicines exist that can prevent people developing these conditions

WHO issues guidelines for HepB treatment

Singapore: WHO has issued its first-ever guidance for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, a viral infection which is spread through blood and body fluids, attacking the liver and resulting in an estimated 650 000 deaths each year, most of them in low- and middle-income countries.

Effective medicines exist that can prevent people developing these conditions so they live longer. But most people who need these medicines are unable to access them or can only obtain substandard treatment. One reason for this is the lack of clear evidence-based guidance for countries (especially low- and middle-income countries) as to who should be treated and what medicines to use, WHO stated.

"Deciding who needs treatment for hepatitis B depends on a number of factors," says Dr Stefan Wiktor, program leader, WHO's Global Hepatitis Programme. "These new guidelines, which give treatment recommendations that rely on simple, inexpensive tests, will help clinicians make the right decisions."

The "WHO guidelines for the prevention, care and treatment of persons living with chronic hepatitis B infection" lay out a simplified approach to the care of people living with chronic hepatitis B, particularly in settings with limited resources.

Key recommendations include:1. The use of a few simple non-invasive tests to assess the stage of liver disease to help identify who needs treatment; prioritizing treatment for those with cirrhosis - the most advanced stage of liver disease;

2. The use of two safe and highly effective medicines, tenofovir or entecavir, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B; andregular monitoring using simple tests for early detection of liver cancer, to assess whether treatment is working, and if treatment can be stopped.